Heel-plate



'(No Model.)

H. E. VAN BENSOHOTEN. HEEL PLATE.

No. 491,149. Patented Feb. 7, 1893.

Tn: NORRIS PmRs ca. PHDTO-LITHOV. WASHINGTON. n, cy

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFI E.

HENRY E. VAN BENSCHOTEN, OF HUDSON, NEW YORK.

HEEL-PLATE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 491,149, dated February'7, 1893.

Application filed February 17, 1892. Serial No. 421,868. (No model.) 7

To allwhom it may concern:

Be it knownthat I, HENRY E. VAN BEN- SOHOTEN, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Hudson, in the county of Columbia and State of NewYork, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inHeel-Protectors; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, andexact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilledin the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of referencemarked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to heel protectors for boots and shoes.

It has for its object to provide a heel protector which will prevent theaccumulation of mud and the like at its edges, and which may easily beapplied and securely retained in place.

With these objects in view, my invention consists in certain features ofconstruction and combination of parts which willbe herein described andclaimed.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a plan View of a heel of a boot vor shoe,with my invention applied. Fig. 2 is an edge view of the protector, and,Fig. 3is perspective View of the same.

In the drawings, A denotes the boot or shoe heel having secured theretoone or more heel protectors. These protectors each consist of a plate,B, having a flat outer face from a to b and an inclined edge from a toc. The opposite edge, d, is in a vertical line. Integral with andprojecting downward from the inner face of the plate is a prong, O. Thisprong is located under the thick portion of the plate, so that, indriving the prong into the leather, the liability of breaking the plateis greatly lessened. Theouter edge of the plate is curvedto conform tothe curve of the heel and the inner edge is also curved so as not topresent a sharp edge or angle which might trip or hook in the carpet orgrass.

.These protectors are designed mainly forthe building up of heels whichhave become worn at their edges, and are applied in series, as shown inFig. 1.

To prevent dirt working under the plates, which would eventually causethem to work loose and also to prevent them turning or twisting on theirprongs, I provide the plate at the extreme inner and outer edges each,on its inner side, with a biting lip, c, which, when the prong is drivenhome, enters the heel.

I am aware that heel plates have been heretofore constructed with bitinglips on their under sides at a distance from their edges,

but such construction is objectionable, in that it allows the dirt toenter between them and the heel, which would in time cause the plate topry loose. I am also aware that plates have been constructed at theinner and outer edges of their outer faces on a bevel. This constructionis also objectionable for the reason that the heel is very apt to rockover and thereby twist the ankle of the wearer. By providing thevertical outer edge I overcome this objection.

Having thus described my invention I claim:

A heel protector, consisting of a plate and an integrally extendingsecuring prong, the under side of said plate having at its extreme innerand outer edges each a biting lip, on its upper side, a flat portionfrom a to b, an inclined inner edge, and a vertical outer edge, curvedto conform to the curvature of the heel, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

HENRY E. VAN BENSCHQTEN.

Witnesses:

HARRY W. ALDEN, J. RIDER CADY.

